New Delhi: Indian farmers' leaders on Wednesday outlined plans to scale up months of protests against agricultural reforms, as their cause gained high-profile supporters in the West.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions protesting against three agri laws, on Wednesday said it is a matter of pride that eminent personalities of the world are showing sensitivity towards the cause, but it is unfortunate that the Government of India is not understanding their pain.
Demanding the repeal of three new farm laws that they say will hurt them to the benefit of large corporations, tens of thousands of farmers have been camped on the outskirts of Delhi since late 2020.
Their generally peaceful protest was marred by violence last week, when some demonstrators drove a procession of tractors into the heart of the capital and clashed with police.
Police have since erected barricades around three main protest sites and shut off the internet in some areas.
Farmers' leaders, speaking hours after US pop superstar Rihanna weighed into the row in a posting to her 101 million Twitter followers, said they would not back down.
"This gathering shows the anger against the government and we will continue our fight," union leader Rakesh Tikait told a 50,000-strong rally of the politically influential Jat community in Haryana.
He and other leaders said they would send more farmers to the Delhi protest sites and hold similar meetings across the country to gather further support.
Rakesh Singh Vidhuri, a farmer from Punjab, the epicentre of the protests, who attended Wednesday's meeting, said the movement was bringing together growers from across India's northern breadbasket region.
"The protests have spread because these laws will impact the livelihood of farmers and Indian agriculture overall," he told Reuters.
Global focus
The farmers say the reforms, which will allow big retailers to buy directly from growers, will mean the end of long-standing guaranteed prices for their crops and leave them vulnerable to the whims of big business.
The government has offered some concessions but ruled out abandoning them, says they will benefit farmers and draw investment to a sector that makes up nearly 15% of India's $2.9 trillion economy and employs about half its workforce.
US singer Rihanna created a flutter in India on Tuesday by posting an article on the demonstrations to her 101 million Twitter followers, also using the #FarmersProtest tag.
The 32-year-old singer took to Twitter and shared a CNN news article headlined, "India cuts internet around New Delhi as protesting farmers clash with police."
"Why aren't we talking about this? #FarmersProtest," Rihanna wrote.
The protests drew global attention as prominent Western activists echoed Rihanna's support for the farmers' campaign.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg also took to Twitter to say, "We stand in solidarity with the #FarmersProtest in India."
In a fresh tweet on Wednesday, she also shared "a toolkit for those who want to help".
"Here's a toolkit if you want to help," said Thunberg, which takes the user to a document containing details on ways to support the protest.
In the document, various urgent actions, including creating a Twitter storm and protesting outside Indian embassies, were listed which were needed to be taken to support farmers' agitation.
Besides Rihanna and Thunberg, Meena Harris, an American lawyer and niece of US Vice President Kamala Harris, actress Amanda Cerni, singers Jay Sean, Dr Zeus and former adult star Mia Khalifa voiced their support to the protesting farmers.
Meena Harris said, "It's no coincidence that the world's oldest democracy was attacked not even a month ago, and as we speak, the most populous democracy is under assault."
Hollywood star John Cusack, who previously voiced support to anti-CAA protestors in February 2020, retweeted a post by Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan climate activist, reading, "Let us talk about what is happening in India right now #FarmersProtest."
The foreign ministry labelled the comments "neither accurate nor responsible".
"A very small section of farmers" had issues with the new laws and some groups had tried to mobilise international support against India.
"Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken," the ministry said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said "no propaganda" can deter India's unity or stop the country from attaining new heights as several of his ministerial colleagues as well as Bollywood celebrities like Akshay Kumar, Kangna Ranaut and Ajay Devgn and filmmaker Karan Johar urged people to be wary of false propaganda.
